Bush holds his last press conference

(NBC) - President Bush held his final news conference Monday morning at the White House. He was often light-hearted and a bit nostalgic. He freely talked about the war, the economy, his accomplishments and even his mistakes.

For the most part, the President shrugged off his critics and extended an olive branch to the press. At his final news conference, President Bush defended himself and his record.

"Look, I inherited a recession, I'm ending on a recession," said Bush. "In the meantime, there were fifty-two months of uninterrupted job growth."

He made few apologies but admitted mistakes.

"Clearly putting a 'Mission Accomplished' on a aircraft carrier was a mistake," said Bush.

He refused to put his response to Hurricane Katrina in that category.

"Don't tell me the federal response was slow when there was 30,000 people pulled off roofs right after the storm passed," said Bush. "Could things have been done better? Absolutely."

He predicted he will be remembered for standing firm on the Iraq Qar.

"Looked like it was going fine and then violence for a period of time began to throw, throw the progress of Iraq into doubt," said Bush.

Some call it the loneliest job in the world but not President Bush.

"I believe the phrase 'burdens of the office' is overstated," said Bush.

With days left in office, the transition is already under way. President Bush Monday moved on President-elect Obama's request to ask Congress for the remaining $350 billion in bailout money.

And, as for President-elect Obama, "I wish him all the best and um, people say that's just a throw-away line," said Bush. "No, it's not a throw-away line."

He said retirement will not change his Type-A personality.

"I just can't imagine myself, you know, in a big straw hat and Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach," said Bush.

The president said he is now ready to step off the public stage. The president said he is looking forward to having a front-row seat for history when President-elect Obama is sworn in one week from Tuesday.